Buick LESABRE 1997 User manual

(@ The 1997 Buick LeSabre Owner’s Manual
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Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety beltsproperly. Tt also explains the “SRS” system.
Features and Controls
This section explains how to startand operate your Buick.
Comfort Controlsand Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls andhow to operate your audio system.
Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information andtips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
Problems on the Road
This section tells whatto do if you have a problem while driving, suchas a flattire or overheated engine. etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick runningproperly and looking good.
Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you whento perform vehicle maintenance and what fluidsand lubricants to use.
Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how to contact Buick for assistanceand how to get service and owner publications.
It also givesyou information on “Reporting Safety Defects”
on page 8-8.
Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
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G
[ENERALMOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
B 1 UIC
the BUICK Emblem and the name LESABRE are
registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes
the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold
in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors of Canada Limited” forBuick Motor
Division whenever it appears in this manual.
Please keepthis manual in your Buick,
so it will be there
if you ever need it when you’re on the road.
If you sell
the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new
owner can use it.
Litho in
U.S.A.
Part No. 25660692 CSecond Edition
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION
THROUGH
Nahonal lnstltute for
AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
We support voluntary
technician certification.
?or Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
?rench Language Manual:
Aux propriktairescanadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ce guideen fraqaischez
votre concessionaire ou
au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1500Bonhill Rd.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1C7
@CopyrightGeneral Motors Corporation 1996
All Rights Reserved
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iii

&tee. its beginnings to 1903. That was the year the William C. (Billy) Durant
compmy was reorganized, refinzmced ad moved from
Detroit to Flint. Buickhas always been aproduct
innovator.
Buick engineers developed the
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Durant alsocreated a racing team that won 500 racing
trophies in
1909 and 19 10, including successesat
Indianapolis twoyears before the Indy
500 began.
The successof Buick engines was visible not only on
the race track, but in endurance tests across the country
and around the world. Buick was the only car to
complete a 1,000-mile Chicago-to-NewYork race in
1906. And a Buickwas the first carto travel across
South America,driven from Buenos Aires,Argentina,
over the Andes to Santiago, Chilein 1914.
I I
I911 Model 21 Touring Car- on Buick’s Test Hill
Buick drew plenty of attention because it could climb
hills and run through mud like no othercar. Buick’s
endurance and reliability were world famous.
During World War
I, Buick built Liberty aircraft engines
as well as Red Cross ambulances so successfully that
one Buick ambulance was awarded the Croix de Guerre
by the French government.
As a builder of premier automobiles,Buick was hard hit
by the Great Depression. However,new General
Manager Harlow H. Curtice created popular new models
including the Special and the Roadmaster. Buick sales
soon flourished.
First Buick Factory
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In World War 11, Buick built aircraft engines, tanksand
other military hardware. This post-war periodbrought
great stylingand engineering changeswhich resulted in
increased sales. The torque converter automatic
transmission,Dynaflow, was introduced
in the 1948
Roadmaster. Buick’s
famous “portholes” camealong
in 1949.
1949 Roadmaster
A high-compression V-8 engine was introduced in 1953.
And Buick’s famous vertical pillar “toothy”
grille
(introduced in 1942) became more massive in the
post-war era.
1953 Skylark
Motor Trend magazine named the 1962 Buick Special
“Car of the Year.” The first production
V-6 engine was
used in the Special.
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I962 Bcrick Special
Built inside the walls of the old buildings in Buick’s
former Flint complex, which formed the cornerstone of
General Motors, Buick City is a state-of-the-art
assembly facilitywith more than
200 robots and other
high-tech equipment. It was completed in the fall
of
1985.
Buicks are, and will continue tobe, premium American
motorcars with smooth power, high performance, rich
detail and comfortable accommodation.
Ed Mu-tz, General Manager-, Brrick Motor Division
Our mission is simple:
“Buick will provide Premium American Motorcars
backed with services that exceed
our customers’
expectations, throughout the purchase, ownership,
service and repurchase experience.”
Buicks are SUBSTANTIAL.
Buicks are DISTINCTIVE.
Buicks are POWERFUL.
Buicks are
PREMIUM.
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How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If
you do this, it will help you learn about the features
and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll
find that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Index
A good place to look for what you need isthe Index in
the back of the manual. It’s analphabetical list
of all
that’s in the manual, and the page number where you’ll
find it.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you
if you were to ignore
the warning.
I
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what thehazard is. Then
we tell
you what to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t,you or
others could be hurt.
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it
in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,’’
“Don’t
do this,” or“Don’t
let this happen.”
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